Ethan Phillips
Ethan Phillips | |
|---|---|
 Phillips at FedCon XI in Bonn, Germany 2003 | |
| Born | Ethan Phillips |
| Spouse | Patricia Cresswell (1990 - present)[1] |
Ethan Phillips (born February 8, 1955) is an American actor, playwright and author. He is known for television roles such as Star Trek: Voyager's Neelix and Benson's Pete Downey.[1]
Biography
Early life
Phillips was born in Garden City, Long Island, New York. Mr. Phillips was reared as a Roman Catholic; he was also the only boy out of six children in his family. He received a bachelor's degree in English literature from Boston University and an MFA from Cornell University.[1]
Current
As of 2008, Mr Phillips lives in Los Angeles, California, with his wife Patricia Phillips née Cresswell (married since August 10, 1990), and his pet West Highland terrier, Frank. He is a avid backpacker and rock climber, and enjoys ornithology and botany.(citation needed)
Career
Ethan Phillips began his career in show business performing in Broadway and off-Broadway plays. Some of his early work included: "My Favorite Year", "Measure for Measure", "Lips Together, Teeth Apart", and "Modigliani". He authored the play Penguin Blues, which has been staged around the United States and Canada.[1]
In 1980 Ethan Phillips and Rene Auberjonois (Odo of Star Trek DS9) joined the cast of Benson (1979 - 1986). Phillips continued to play Pete Downey in the half-hour sitcom. Phillips left the Benson series in 1985 and began testing the acting waters in feature length films. He won parts in Critters, Burglar, Lean On Me, as well as the 1989 Oscar-winning historical docu-drama Glory.
Mr. Phillips has made guest appearances on many television series, including Chigago Hope, Murphy Brown, NYPD Blue, Law and Order, and LA Law.
Ethan has been a member of Robert Redford's organization, The Sundance Playwrights Conference, in Utah, for over 10 years.
In 1990 he began his prolific "Star Trek" career playing the Ferengi character of Dr. Farek in Star Trek: The Next Generation; episode:Ménage à Troi. Phillips went on to play Neelix on Voyager from 1995 to 2001,[2] as well as several guest appearances in other Star Trek series, episodes, and film.
He also coauthored the Star Trek Cookbook.[3][4]
Phillips has also performed for the Star Wars fanbase, doing voice work for several of the Star Wars franchise video games: 2000 the 'Star Wars: Force Commander' (Transport Pilot/Governor of Abridon), the 2001 'Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds' (Empire Medical Droid, Krantian Governor, and Royal Grenade Trooper), and the 2003 'Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic' (credited with additional voices)
Star Trek
After his first Star Trek role in 1990 in the TNG episode :'Ménage à Troi', Ethan Phillips finally landed a long term position in the Star Trek universe as a Talaxian, Neelix in the long running series: Star Trek: Voyager.
In 1994 Phillips won the role of Neelix in the pilot episode Caretaker of the new Trek series, Voyager. The character of Neelix was a Talaxian who befriended an Ocompan girl named Kes. With a forehead and neck full of colorful splotches and cheeks full of fur Nellix enlisted the stranded Voyager crew to help him free his friend Kes from the Kazon. At the end of the 2 hour pilot, Voyager captain Kathrine Janeway allowed Nellix to join her crew on its journey toward the alpha-quadrant and home. Neelix became the ships cook, served as it's morale officer, and eventually became their Ambassador.
The Neelix hair style provided several talking points through the series, as the blonde cheek hair which resembled an exaggerated version of the TOS sideburns, extended all the way to his chin. It was mentioned that this 'fur' was also a source of pleasure, and perhaps even a part of Telaxian foreplay.[5]
Phillips stayed with the series through its entire 7 season run, and even performed a cameo of the holographic Nightclub Maitre d' in the 1996 Movie, Star Trek: First Contact. Through the first 3 seasons Voyager, while Kes was aboard, several story-lines included the romantic relationship and feelings that Neelix had for Kes, as well as an evolving friendship with the Vulcan science officer Tuvok. At the end of the series run, Neelix found a home on a planet/ship populated with Telaxians. In this episode titled "Homestead" he be-friended a young Talaxian boy and his mother, choosing to stay with those of his own race as Voyager continued its quest for Earth. In the final episode(s) "Endgame" which saw the Voyager realize their hope to return home, Neelix was shown communicating with 7 of 9 onboard the voyager ship via long range video conference. While Phillips played the character as upbeat, optimistic, and at times almost comical, he also showed very resourceful, compasionate and insightful sides when dealing with adversity and children.
Ethan Phillips has not only performed on 3 separate variations in the Trek TV Universe (STNG, Voyager, and Enterprise), has appeared in one of the feature length films (Star Trek:First Contact), and performed in the Star Trek Internet 'fanfilm' titled "Of Gods and Men" which starred several of the original TOS cast. He has also crossed paths with and performed with many of the Star Trek 'stars'.
Star Trek Connections
- 1990 Star Trek: The Next Generation: (episode: Ménage à Troi.) as Dr. Farek.
- 1994 - 2001 Star Trek Voyager: as Neelix for all 7 seasons
- 1996 Film 'Star Trek: First Contact' uncredited cameo as holodeck Maitre d'.
- 2003 Short film spoof 'Roddenberry on Patrol' (directed by Tim Russ, also co-starring Robert Beltran, Walter Koenig, Nichelle Nichols, Robert Picardo, and George Takei)
- 2002 Enterprise: (episode: Acquisition) as Ulis
- 2003 Short film Living in Walter's World, co-starring Deep Space 9 star Armin Shimerman.
- 2006 Boston Legal as Michael Schiller (3 episodes) (co-starring William Shatner)
- 2007 Internet Star Trek fan movie 'Of Gods and Men' as data clerk (co-stars Walter Koenig, Nichelle Nichols, Alan Ruck, Garrett Wang, and Tim Russ)
Filmography
| Year | Film[2] | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Bones | Checker Box Manager | |
| 2007 | Cavemen (TV series) | Red Goldreyer | |
| Hallowed Ground | Preacher | ||
| The Babysitters | Mark Kessler | ||
| Have Dreams, Will Travel | Businessman | ||
| Keith | Mr. Miles | ||
| Super Sweet 16: The Movie | Craig | ||
|
2006 |
Chestnut: Hero of Central Park | Marty | Doorman |
| 2005 | The Island | Jones Three Echo | |
| 2004 | Geeks | Himself | |
| Trekkies 2 | Himself | ||
| 2003 | Bad Santa | Roger Merman | |
| Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic | Various/Dantooine Civilian/Galon Lor(Korriban) | Voice | |
| Rugrats Go Wild! | Toa | Voice | |
| 2002 | The Wild Thornberrys Movie | Loris | Uncredited |
| Star Trek: Enterprise | Ulis, group leader of Ferengi thieves[6] | ||
| 2001 | Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds | Empire medical droid/Krantian governor/Royal grenade trooper | |
| 2000 | 9mm of Love | Guy | |
| Star Wars: Force Commander | Transport Pilot/Governor of Abridon | Voice | |
| Star Trek: Voyager Elite Force | Neelix | Voice | |
| 1997 | Trekkies | Himself | |
| 1996 | Star Trek: First Contact | Holodeck Nightclub Maitre d' | Uncredited |
| 1994-2001 | Star Trek Voyager | Neelix | |
| 1994 | Wagons East | CMMDR. S. L. Smedly | |
| The Shadow | Nelson | ||
| 1990 | Green Card | Gorsky, INS agent | |
| 1990 | Star Trek: The Next Generation | Dr. Farek | |
| 1989 | Glory | Hospital steward | |
| Lean on Me | Mr. Rosenberg | ||
| 1986 | Critters | Jeff Barnes | |
| 1981 | Ragtime | Guard at Family House | |
| 1980 | Benson | Peter 'Pete' 'The Pete Boy' 'Petey' | Seasons 2-6 |
Further reading
- The Star Trek Cookbook - Ethan Philips and William J. Birnes (ISBN 0-671-00022-5)[3][4]
References
- ^ a b c d e "Biography for Ethan Phillips". at the Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 2007-10-21.
- ^ a b Ethan Phillips at IMDb. Retrieved 2007-10-21.
- ^ a b "Star Trek Cookbook". Google Book Search. Retrieved 2007-10-21.
- ^ a b OCLC 40606638 Star Trek Cookbook at WorldCat. Retrieved 2007-10-21.
- ^ Star Trek:Voyager |Season 4|Episode10|Random Thoghts
- ^ Star Trek: Enterprise season 1, episode 18
External links
